Device to reproduce timing disks



June 2l, 1949., H. E. McCoY DEvIcE To REPRoDUoE TIMING Drsxs glu/vanto@ HARRY E. MCCOY June 21, 1949 H. E. MccoY 2,473,535

DEVICE TO REPRODUCE TIMING DISKS Filed Sept. 18, y1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HARRY E, MCCOY June 21, 1949. H, E. MccoY 2,473,536

DEVICE TO REPRODUGE TIMING DISKS Filed sept. 18, 1944I 4 sheets-sheet s HARRY E McCOY @M Mw www June 2l, 1949.

H. E. MccoY 2,473,536

DEVICE TO REPRODUCE TIMING DISKS Filed Sept. 18, 1944 4 Sheeos--Sheei'l 4 SMQ/whew HARRY E. MCCOY @www Patented June 21, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) This invention relates to duplicating machines and more particularly to improvements in machines for manufacturing precision indexes.

The invention is embodied in a duplicating machine of the type in which an index blank is clamped to a master index, the characters of which are to be reproduced on the blank and the blank and master index are rotated as a unit with respect to means for scoring the surface of the blank with characters similar to thoseI on the master index. A suitable indexing device is provided for shifting the blank from position to position with respect to the scoring means between each cutting operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved machine of the type described which may readily be constructed with a minimum of equipment which requires a minimum of skill to operate and which is accurate and rapid.

1t is customary in graduating indexes to divide the circumference of the index into major and minor divisions. The major divisions generally are demarked from the minor divisions by extending the score lines further inward toward the center of the index. A feature of the present invention resides in means for selectively controlling the movement of the cutting means radially of the index blank to permit the formation of score marks of different lengths. As illustrated herein, the aforesaid means takes the form of limit stops operable to be moved into and out of the path of the movement of the cutting means to limit its movement radially of the index blank.

It is evident that the index blank and master index must be concentric in order accurately to duplicate the master index. It is a further object of this invention to provide means for clamping the index blank to the master index which is operable automatically to center the index blank and master index with respect to each other. Specifically, the aforesaid means comprises a four bar parallelogram linkage to one side of which is pivotally fastened, to two of the parallel links, the index blank and to the other side of which is fastened the master index and means for expanding or contracting the parallelogram.

A specific description of the construction and operation of the machine will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings', in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a duplicating machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational elevation;

Fig. 41s a plan view;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred clamping means;

Fig. 6 is a front view in elevation of the clamp shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 6a is a cross section of the clamping means at one corner;

Fig. 7 is a side View in elevation of the clamp shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the clamp.

Referring to Fig. 1, the machine comprises in general, a base I0, a support I2 on which an index blank IB clamped to a master index I4 may be rotated with respect to cutting means I8 and means 20 for rotating the index blank and master index as a unit with respect to the cutting means, the latter being adapted to be moved radially from an out of the way position across the index blank I'6 to produce score marks corre-- sponding to the score mark on the master index I4.

The base Ill preferably constitutes the top of a table or bench and supports the working parts of the machine at a convenient height from the floor.

The index blank I'S which is to be a duplicate of the master index I4 is clamped to the master index by'spacing blocks 2| placed between the blank and the master index, counter sunk screw's 22 being provided for fastening the plates to the opposite face of the blocks. The master index and index blank are placed upon the surface of the support I2 which consists of a plate 24 fastened to the upper end of a post 26. The post 26 is provided with a base 28 which is fastened to the base I0. The index blank and hence the master index are held in position on the plate 24 for rotation about the center of the index blank on pin 25 which projects upwardly from the center of the plate and is adapted snugly to engage a central aperture 21 formed in the index blank. A coating of grease is applied to the surface of the plate 24 to reduce friction between the bottom surface of the index blank I4 and the surface of the plate 24. Adjacent to the master index, there is fastened to the base an upright 3U, the upper end of which is bent over at' 32 to overlie the characters on the master index, the end of the bent over portion 32 being broughtt to a point. Thus the master index may accurately be aligned for each cutting operation. In order to turn the master index relative to the pointer 32 and to the cutting means I8, there is provided a rubber tired disc 34 mounted on a horizontal spindle 36 in a position -frlctionally .support -48 by different amounts.

to engage the upper peripheral surface of the index blank I6. The spindle 36 is journalled in a pair of vertical spaced plates 38 fastened to a block 40 which in turn is secured to the base I0. The outer end of the spindle 36 is provided with a hand Wheel 42 by which the disc 34 may b rotated thereby to turn the index blank and' master index about the axis of the pin 25.

The means I8 for cutting the score marks on the surface of the index blank to correspond to the characters on the master index comprises a disc saw 43 attached to a spindle 44 which is driven by an electric motor 48', the `latter vbeing mounted on slide 48 which is mounted for movement transversely of the base I on a pair of parallel rails 50. The disc saw 43 is so positioned with respect to the plate 24 that when the slide 48 is reciprocated transversely of the base I0 on the rails the disc saw 43 will move to and from the center of the plate 24 and hence will make a radial score mark on the index blank supported on -the plate 24. The rails 58 are attached tothe base I0 by screws 52.

In the manufacture of index plates, itis customary to divide the circumference of the index plate into units of ten degrees and thenl tosubdivide these units into units of five degrees and degrees. In order to distinguish the divisions, the larger divisions are denoted by long score marks while the smaller units have correspond- .ingly shorter score marks. It is a feature-of the vpresent invention to provide means to facilitate `producing score marks `of different length for the purpose set forth above. To accomplish this, the slide 48 is yieldably held near the forward ,edge of the base IU by a spring 54 and is moved rearwardly to cause the circular saw 43 to travel radially over the surface of `the index blank I6 bya cord 56 attached to the rear edge of the slide 48', the cord being passed around a pulley 158 journalled on a vertical post l projecting upwardly from the base I6, beneath the slide 48, .around a pulley 60 and downwardly to a pedal 62 whichmay be depressed 'by the operator to pull the cord downwardly and hence to pull the slide rearwardly in opposition to the spring `54. The .pedal 62 is .pivoted at 64 Von .the base LIU. The pulley 68 is mounted on a spindle 66 which is journalled between a pair of angle Varms 68 fas- -tened tothe front edge of the base Ill. In accordance with the invention, in order .to make long score marks, such as would be used to .define ten degree divisions, a limit pin I0 is mounted ina block A'I2 fastened to the base |50 Ain a position to .lie in the path of movement of the slide 48, thereby to limit the rearward movement of the slide 48 so that the disc saw 4'3 will always move the esame distance inwardly of the blank when the treadle is depressed. Hence itis only necessary for the operator to depress the treadle .62 and then to release it in order to produceascore mark for a ten degree division of the .proper length. In addition to the limit pin 1D, there are provided limit pins 14 and 1 6 .for the :five degree and degree marks, respectively. These limit pins are Aslidablymounted in the block vI2y at the ynear side of the limit pin 1U, and are operable to be moved into and out of the path .of the slide, thereby to ,limit the rearward movementof the Thelimit pin 1.6, which :is for limiting the movement of the slide and hencethe discsaw for Vfive `degree marks, `is attached'for operation to one end of arod 18, `.the opposite end .of which is pivoted at 8l! -on the v'base I0;

Intermediate the ends ofthe.- rod 18 there is pivotably attached a link 82 which in turn is pivotally connected to an operating rod 84. The operating rod 84 is pivoted at 86 to the base and its free end extends forwardly of the machine and is bent over at 88 to aiford a convenient means for grasping it for operation. The limit pin 'I4 is likewise operated, being connected to a rod 90 which is pivotally fastened at 92 to the base I0. A link 94 is connected to the rod 9D at one end and at its opposite end to an operating rod 96 pivoted at 98 on the base I8. The free end of the operating rod 96 is bent over at |08 to aifordmeans for grasping and operating it. For the convenience of the operator and to differentiate the two operating rods 84 and 96, a plate |82 is fastened to the base I0 beneath the operating rods and is marked with indicia denoting in which direction to move the operating rods and-which of the limit stops will be actuated by each rod.

While the index blank I6 is shown clamped to the .master index I4 by a pair .of spacing blocks 2| and .screws 22, this means of joining the index blank and master index is not entirely satisfactory since it takes considerable time to align the index .blank and master index in perfectly concentric relation. Accordingly, another important feature of the invention resides in means for clamping the index blank and master index in such relation that they may automatically be brought into concentric relation. This is accomplished herein, by a clamp |84 (Fig. 5) consisting of bars |05, |08, II!) and VIIZ joined together' at their ends into `a four bar parallelogram linkage. Bolts II4 are provided for joining the ends of the bars in overlapping relation. The bolts I|14 are adapted to be slidably received in radially disposed slots I|8 formed in the master index. Threaded openings |28 are formed cen- .trally of each of the bars of the linkage and are adapted to receive screws |2I by which the index blank I6 is clamped to any two of the parallel bars of the linkage, after the linkage has been 4brought into concentric relation therewith by adjustment of the parallelogram. Provision for this adjustment is made by a screw |26 which is threaded through a block |24I fastened to the master index in such a manner as to move radially inward or outward of the master index. The inner end of the screw |26 is fastened to a bracket I-28 which in turn is fastened to one corner of the parallelogram and a handle |30 is fastened to the opposite end of the screw for rotating the screw, thereby to expand or collapse the parallelogram.

In making -a duplicate index, the operator takes kan index blank I6 `of the proper size and fastens it to the master index I4 by means of the blocks 2| as indicated in Fig. 1 or preferably the parallelogram clamps in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, and then places the blank over the pin 2'5 on the surface of the plate 24. The hand wheel 42 is then rotated until the master index is turned to ybring the-Zero mark on the index opposite the pointer 32. 'The electric motor is then started and the treadle 62 is depressed to move the slide readily into engagement with the stop I0 and hence to move thefdisc saw 43 inwardly to score a mark on the index blank IS corresponding to the Zero mark on the master index I4. Since the next mark on the master index is a degree mark, the operator 4then swings lthe rod 96 to the left which places the limit pin "Min the path of a support 48 and again depresses the treadle-162 whereupon the slide moves rearwardly Ainto engagement with the stop 14 and a degree mark is made corresponding in length to the degree mark -on the master index. After four of these degree marks are produced, a five degree mark is produced, by swinging the operating rod 96 to the right thereby to remove the limit pin 14 from the path of ,the support 48 and moving the limit pin 16 into the path of the slide by movement of the operating rod 84 to the left. It is apparent that the entire index of the master index may be reproduced on the index blank by ycontinued rotation of the index blank and master index degree by degree until the index blank has been rotated through a full three hundred and sixty degrees.

The invention described herein may be manufactured `and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

A machine for manufacturing precision indexes comprising a master index, an index blank upon which the master index is to be reproduced, said index blank and master index being fixed in superposed relation, a support adapted to receive the index blank for rotation in a horizontal plane, a friction disc rotatable about a horizontal axis, said friction disc being arrang-ed so that its peripheral surface engages the surface of the index blank, means for rotating the friction disc to eiect rotation of the index blank, an index member fixed adjacent to the master index, a portion of the index finger overlying the peripheral edge of the index blank, a cutting disc, an electric motor having a shaft to which thecutting disc is fixed, a movable motor support to which the electric motor is clamped, a pair of rails upon which the motor support is adapted to slide, said motor and shaft being so arranged that movement of the motor support on said rails will move the 4cutting disc radially of the index blank, yieldable means normally holding the motor support, and hence the motor and cutting disc in a forward inoperative position, a exible member attached to the movable motor support and to a. treadle the latter being adapted by actuation thereof to move the motor support rearwardly against the opposition of the yieldable means to cause the cutting disc to travel over the surface of the index blank, stops adjacent to the motor support for limiting the rearward movement of the motor support to different amounts and means for selecting one or the other of the stops and moving it into a yposition .to engage the motor support as it is moved rearwardly.

HARRY EPIIRIAM MCCOY.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 283,350 Leman Aug. 14, 1883 815,988 Van Amber Mar. 27, 1906 1,061,973 Bilton May 20, 1913 1,079,306 Trefethen Nov. 18, 1913 1,311,456 Moor July 29, 1919 1,831,869 Kessler Nov. 17, 1931 2,357,117 Jonsson Aug. 29, 1944 2,357,610 Ryife Sept. 5, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,663 Great Britain Dec. 18, 1916 164,593 Switzerland Dec. 16, 1933 

